Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26796
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that today’s Ray T puzzle was a little harder than usual – or maybe I was distracted as we are having the loft insulated (for free!).
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Settled camp enclosing one’s settlement (12)
{ SATISFACTION } – start with a verb meaning settled in a chair followed by a camp or small group of people formed of dissenting members of a larger group and then insert I’S (one’s) to get settlement in reparation of an injustice
8a Scotsman’s tatty accompaniment? (5)
{ NEEPS } – a cryptic definition of what a Scotsman eats with his haggis and tatties – minor point, I’ve never heard tatty in the singular used in this context: over to you BigBoab
9a Isolation’s over with good man facing apartheid (9)
{ OSTRACISM } – this isolation by exclusion from a group is a charade of O(ver), the usual good man and a description of apartheid
11a A French aroma preceded getting separated (9)
{ UNTANGLED } – a charade of the French indefinite article, an aroma and a verb meaning preceded or went first gives a different verb meaning getting separated
12a Starts to stand up, riding foaming sea (5)
{ SURFS } – the initial letters of five words in the clue give an action defined by the whole clue
13a Filled initially working trowel around palmetto ends? (9)
{ FLOWERPOT } – start with the initial letter of Filled and then put an anagram (working) of TROWEL around the end letters of P almett O – so where is the definition? Try reading the whole clue, but I’m not convinced
16a She’s caught in a made-up story (5)
{ ALICE } – to get this girl’s name put C(aught) inside A from the clue and a made up story or fib
18a Outing in charge of old characters (5)
{ RUNIC } – this outing, possibly in the car, is followed by the abbreviation of In Charge to get an adjective meaning of old Germanic characters
19a He studies bug, otherwise holding wasp’s tail (9)
{ INSPECTOR } – this person who studies or examines is created by putting a bug and a two-letter word meaning otherwise around the final letter (tail) of was P
20a Chick left creating pandemonium (5)
{ BABEL } – another affectionate name for a young girl is followed by L(eft) to get this pandemonium that originated from the Tower where, according to the biblical story, God made the builders all speak different languages.
22a Cursed bird when draped round neck? (9)
{ ALBATROSS } – this bird is used symbolically to mean an oppressive and inescapable fact (from the dead bird hung round the neck of the sailor in Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner)
25a Run following sweetheart, tense holding hands (9)
{ ELOPEMENT } – put a word meaning to run after the middle letter (heart) of sw E et and follow it with T(ense) and then insert (holding) hands or crew on a ship – once again the whole clue acts as the definition
26a Being performed by Lyric Theatre? (5)
{ ODEON } – put a two-letter word meaning being performed after (by) a lyric or poem that is sung to get a theatre for musical contests In ancient Greece and Rome
27a Boxer wet leg and I threw wobbly! (12)
{ WELTERWEIGHT } – this category in boxing is an anagram (wobbly) of WET LEG and I THREW
Down
1d Vegetable stew once prepared preserving recipe (9)
{ SWEETCORN } – the yellow kernels of this variety of maize are eaten as a vegetable and are an anagram (prepared) of STEW ONCE around (preserving) R(ecipe)
2d Name of boxer and some rottweilers! (5)
{ TYSON } – the name of this famous former heavyweight boxing champion is also frequently given by the typically inadequate people who own them to rottweilers
3d Winds round reel (5)
{ SPOOL } – reverse a verb meaning winds or coils to get this reel on which yarn is wound
4d Doctor instead to produce cures (9)
{ ANTIDOTES } – an anagram (doctor) of INSTEAD TO gives these cures
5d Put differently, Tory leader charged with reprimand (9)
{ TRANSLATE } – A verb meaning to put differently is constructed from the initial letter (leader) of T ory, a verb meaning charged or raced and to reprimand
6d Willow is more blooming having top removed (5)
{ OSIER } – this name for any willow whose twigs are used in making baskets is created by dropping the initial R (top removed) from an adjective meaning more blooming
7d Impossible if blues fan changes, accepting Queen (12)
{ INSUFFERABLE } – an adjective meaning impossible or too much to bear is derived by putting an anagram (changes) of IF BLUES FAN around (accepting) the usual abbreviation of for the Queen
10d Spin Premier’s spouting on broadcast (12)
{ MISREPRESENT } – this verb meaning to spin in the way popularised by the dodgy dossier merchants of the last government is created from an anagram (spouting) of PREMIER’S followed by a word meaning broadcast or transmitted
14d Select former unit on hospital department (9)
{ EXCELLENT } – this adjective meaning select or special is a charade of a former partner, a political unit and a hospital department
15d Brig stripped vessel taken by fellow warship (9)
{ PRIVATEER } – put the inside letters (stripped) of (B)RI(G) and a large vessel or tank inside a fellow or equal to get this warship commissioned to seize and plunder an enemy’s ships
17d Footprint ‘Rover’ trailed catching lone wolf (9)
{ INTROVERT } – hidden inside the clue is this lone wolf
21d Front of bib with dribble from drink (5)
{ BOOZE } – start with the initial (front) letter of B ib and follow it with a verb meaning to dribble to get a slang word for alcoholic drink
23d Soak hit on hot European (5)
{ BATHE } – a verb meaning to soak in a tub is created from a verb meaning to hit a cricket ball followed by H(ot) and E(uropean)
24d Last item removed in strip? (5)
{ THONG } – a cryptic definition of what is usually the last item removed by a stripper also works as a double definition – an item used by a cobbler at his last and a strip [Thanks to those who pointed this out]
A very meaty puzzle, although I found some of the all-in-one defintions to be a bit iffy.
The Quick crossword pun: { ban } + { clone } = { bank loan }
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Yes, I agree ref 13a and the missing definition. A similar issue with 25a too I thought (double use of “run”?) Still, an enjoyable puzzle ***/*** I’d say. Thanks to Ray T and to BD.
I struggled with this and have only just finished it, having started at 7:15am. Once I’d corrected my answer to 9a I slotted 10d in easily. Until then I wondered how Easter Rising fitted the clue. Stupid boy!
Marginally trickier than normal, and plenty of fun to solve.
Thanks to Ray T, and BD.
I thought the Toughie was good too, and it took me about the same time to complete as this one.
I did not find it quite so difficult as the normal Thursday offering. After solving a few anagrams I had plenty of checking letters to work with. 13a very weak but that was all it could be. I did enjoy doing it despite the few odd clues.
Au revoir. I can’t do 4* puzzles. I think that RayT makes them too difficult and the points of entry are few
Hi CW – personally, I didn’t think it was 4*. I’d give it a go, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Ok Roland, here goes
It’s horses for courses I think as Ray T is my favourite setter while I struggle with Giovanni.
My preference is for Rufus
Abslutely, me too collywobs, I love his sharp witty no nonsense clues, but horses for courses as they say or each to her own!
Ray T is my favourite setter too, spindrift. I used to struggle with Giovanni on Fridays and Virgilius on Sundays but I have learnt SO much from this blog that I can usually make a pretty good attempt on Fridays and Sundays these days. Of course knowing that help is available makes a huge difference to how much I “perservate”!!
I am afraid that I am not one of Ray T’s many fans and today’s offering did not convince me to change my view. 13a is an obvious example but 2d leaves me cold and I am still struggling to understand my answers to 15d and 25a. I do like to understand my answers and so often on a Thursday I don’t. On the positive side, 12a was nice and for once I forgive the use of a girl’s name since this particular one, in 16a, does have a clever connection.
Hi LL, Ref 15d, Brig stripped of it’s outer letters, followed by a 3 letter vessel, all surrounded (taken) by a 4 letter word meaning fellow. The definition being warship (which is a bit of a stretch I agree, I thought it meant a pirate ship – but close enough?)
Thanks, Roland – the muddy water is a little clearer. I have not come across the general word for a lord being used for ‘fellow’ before.
From Chambers:
* An equal
* A fellow
* An antagonist (Spenser)
* A noble of the rank of baron upward
* Generally, a noble
* A member of the House of Lords
* One of Charlemagne’s paladins
* A member of any similar body
Yes, indeed – all familiar except for Nos 2 and 3 in the list
If it’s in Chambers it is considered to be fair game.
Fair ’nuff
I was thinking of it in terms of a peer group being a collection of equals or fellows.
I see what you mean. I thought that Chambers had it as a straight-forward synonym for ‘fellow’, as in “Hail, peer, and well met”, perhaps! Your interpretation makes better sense.
I got through it and quite enjoyed it – but I agree that 13a is unconvincing. I suppose it’s trying to be an all in one carried by the “planty” words. I think I’ve got 25a, but can’t for the life of me see how it works. Look forward to seeing the hints and comments. Thanks. On my way up to London now – a bit of business and then an exhibition or something!
Typical RayT with lots of nudge nudge moments and of course, Queen. I enjoyed it immensely and favourite amongst many was 9a. Also liked 1a [surely a song there, BD] 13 15 19 22 ete etc. Thanks a lot Ray – its made my day.
I’ll see if i can find a video of the original version – the same thought occurred to me!
Now added – sometimes the recorded versions can’t be embedded due to copyright.
Thanks for that but all i am getting is a piece of jigsaw!
Its OK now. Nice to hear one of the old classics again.
It made my day too, UTC! I always love his puzzles and today we had no power so I had to do it on my own – a bit of a challenge but nice to know that if help is not available I CAN do it!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A difficult one to start but gradually the clues dropped into place. I agree about 13A and await BD’s explanation of 25A
I’m not sure about 25ac must be something like e (from sweet) followed by lope (run) then men (hands) finishing with t (tense)
You’ve got it!
Hi BD, but either there’s no definition, or run is also the definition and is doing a double shift (?)
The whole clue is the definition.
Ok – guess so (ish). Thanks Gazza.
This is a typical Ray T clue that is very difficult for many solvers. I feel that the clue is very abstruse. Thanks for your confidence Roland but I think that I’ll leave it. I really do not feel comfortable with RayT puzzles. I think that they are over complicated
Don’t give up. Try it, youve got the hints to help. 12 months ago I felt like you but learning from this site I completed it today. Go on, Surprise yourself.
OK bf I’ll give it another go. Tks for your support
Phew, just finished. Had to use some of BD’s hints, for which many thanks BD, but I gradually found it easier than I first thought. When will we get the illustration for 24d?
Welll done on your perservation
Well done CW – we had faith!
I do think that there are other things that are more typical of Ray T clues!!!!
BD – I’m not sure that your explanation for 25a is correct…should’nt it be put a word for “run” instead of “elope”…
25A Run = lope following the heart of sweet…E but then I struggle! E and N could be bridge hands..double meaning = elopement = holding hands. Is there a short form for a tense (past, pluperfect type of thing) which is MT?
Aaah, I’m getting the hang of the comments in relation to my own skills.
Very straight forward equals very difficult.
A little harder than usual equals well nigh impossible.:)
Really needed the hints, many thanks.
Another rather tricksy Ray T today. Like many others, I could no t see a definition on 13A, 25A, 2D of 15D but they were solvable from the checking letters etc. I must say hough, that I thoroughly enjoyed 12A 19A and 22A and there were some nice anagrams to solve in 21A and 7D.
Agree with the BD rating today – I think this is a Beam that went astray – I can usualy solve a Ray T in under half this time. I thought 13a was trying to be an all-in-one too. Thanks to Ray for an unexpectedly extra brain stretching this morning and to BD for the explanations.
The Toughie is worth a try too.
could some kind soul explain the link between the word tyson and a dog? Or was he nicknamed a R weiller?
That was my take on it – it’s a popular name for that breed of dog, a bit like Rover for other dogs
I think it’s just a reflection of the fact that apparently, a lot of dogs such as Rottweilers that are kept as weapons and status symbols by gang members etc are called Tyson.
Yes, and Staffie crosses – the ones that, in my experience, and that of our sweet, gentle and elderly little collie, are likely to attack with no reason – yet again, don’t start me …
There was a preponderance of dogs named Tyson when the boxer was famous. We even had a yorkie in our local pub with the name. I assumed that was the answer. Ray may tell us later.
It’s also probably got something to do with the word only having two syllables to remember for the educationally challenged…
I’m with you CS. I usually run throug Ray T but struggled a bit with this. I’m looking forward to seing the hint for 23 down as my own explanation is very iffy. There were some nice doh moments though. Thanks to BD and Ray T.
Soak in a ‘tub’ Hit (3) + H(ot) and E(uropean).
Just got back from OPD. Hadn’t thought of hit in that way! doh.
I’m looking forward more to seeing the illustration for 24d
When I got to that clue, I thought it was simply gratuitous schoolboy humour… hoorah, don’t you just love it?!
Me as well.
“You can’t like all of the quizzes all of the time” I am a big fan of RayT and his crosswords but I personally rated this about 2* for difficulty and enjoyment, maybe I’m having a bad day. Thanks anyway to RayT and to BD. Like Gazza I am looking forward to the illustration for 24d ( and mayhaps 20a )
I actually managed to finish it today before the hints came in, but it was a struggle with some! However, I don’t always understand why the answers are correct and I await the down clue hints. I started doing the Cryptic crossword at the beginning of Feb and was delighted to find this site with all its hints. I understand how to tackle many more of the clues than I did before. Thank you so much.
Welcome to the blog Nicat
I think that if you only started doing the cryptics a month ago and managed to finish this one without hints you are doing AMAZINGLY well. Fantastic!! This is a really great blog – all the clever people who write the hints are very knowledgable and helpful – if you don’t understand something you only need to ask and someone will help out!
As usual with Ray T, I feared initially that I would never even be able to start, then by dribs and drabs I found I’d done half of it. Once BD gave an hint for 1A, which I’d never have done on my own, the rest of the puzzle just followed on!
Got 13a early on, but didn’t like the (lack of) definition, and remain unconvinced by 25a, even with BD’s explanation.
4*/3* for me, but I think it is really too hard for a back page puzzle.
Thanks to Ray T and Big Dave for the review & hints. Way too tough for me. Needed 7 across hints so far. Still not finished, stuck on 5 down clues with all the checkers in. Feel like a novice again would never have got this far without the hints. More like 5* for difficulty.
Phew! Finished at last, agree with Crypticsue, a Beam in the wrong place
Much as I love his puzzles I also think that it could be a Beam in the wrong place – or maybe I was just in the wrong place today!
Definately**** and** for me today,relieved when i’d finished it! Like many others did not like the inexactness of 13 and 25 also regarding 9, i’ve never seen O for OVER before-has anyone else?
I guess the abbreviation “O” is used in cricket to mean over or overs in a bowler’s or batsman’s analysis. i.e. O = overs, M = maidens, R = runs etc etc.
Thanks-over and out
Hmmm! No comment.
I’m usually a big fan of RayT – but, for once, I agree with you! Hmmm!
Hmmmmm
You traitor, Franco!!
I did think it was a bit tricky but SO many clues that made me laugh … yet another of his trademarks!
Phew! Wot a scorcher! Not the puzzle but the weather! (Ok not so hot but at least 10 degrees warmer than yesterday).
I’m joining the anti-brigade concerning 2d, 13a & 25a. Didn’t really understand 22a either – cryptic?.
(No illustration yet for 24d – I hope it’s not Borat again! Ref: DT26652)
Don’t tempt me!
Franco, You’ve never read Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’? Shame on you.
skempie, 22a – I think I was forced to read ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ at school – bloody Jesuit teachers!
I solved it, but is it just GK? Can you parse it from the clue?
Wasn’t it on the O level syllabus in the 1960s?
I think you can parse it fro the clue. The albatross has always been considered to be an unlucky (cursed) bird my sea going folks and in TROTAM the albatross is hung around his neck as punishment for killing it. Works for me.
Hard today with peculiar clues . Anagrams ok Flowerpot?
Hi Linda – welcome to the blog.
BD, I think your hint/explanation of 25a needs “a coat of looking at”.